MASON − The Cincinnati Open trudged through one brief weather delay on Thursday as the first round of the main draw kicked off from the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
The Round of 128 continued on Friday, Aug. 14 and the weather cooperated with 40 singles matches spread out across 10 different courts. Local favorites Peyton Stearns and J.J. Wolf were on the court, with Stearns advancing and Wolf losing after playing his way into the main draw with a pair of qualifying victories.
One big name was ousted on the women’s side, when Emiliana Arango needed just 65 minutes to beat Venus Williams, 6-2, 6-2. Williams is still scheduled to play doubles with her sister Serena. Doubles play begins Sunday.
The full Order of Play for Friday can be found here.
Here are The Enquirer’s real-time updates from all of the first-round action in Mason.
Aleksandar Kovacevic concludes Day 4 play with a win over Karen Khachanov
To wrap up the first round, American Aleksandar Kovacevic defeated ATP tour staple Karen Khachanov 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 on center court, capping things off with a 7-2 deciding tiebreak. The match was Kovacevic’s first-ever main draw win at the Cincinnati Open.
Sofia Kenin takes down Eva Lys in deciding set
Friday play on Grandstand is over, after Sofia Kenin overcame a 1-6 deficit to fire off back-to-back 6-3 sets and defeat Eva Lys. It’s Kenin’s first hard court win since the Brisbane International in January, and she will now face the No. 10-seeded Marta Kostyuk in the second round.
Eva Lys, Sofia Kenin split sets to open second Grandstand match
In a battle between the up-and-coming German Eva Lys and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, the opening two sets went in opposite directions. Lys dominated the first set 6-1, while Kenin fired back to win the second 6-3 to force a decider.
Sloane Stephens shines on center court with first round win
The American is back in the win column after beating Austria’s Sinja Kraus 7-5, 6-3 under the lights. She wins her first Cincinnati Open match since last competing at the tournament since 2023.
Daniel Merida Aguilar and qualifier Jaime Faria defeat their respective ATP opponents
Portugal’s Jaime Faria didn’t qualify for the main draw directly, but he upset his opponent who did. Jaime Faria got a 6-3, 6-2 win over American Jenson Brooksby to kick off the Grandstand night session, recording his third-straight match without dropping a set.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Daniel Merida Aguilar got to best of Croatia’s Marin Cilic, coming back after dropping the first set to earn a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 win.
Yulia Putintseva defeats Liudmila Samsonova in three-set battle
The first-round showing between Yulia Putintseva and Liudmila Samsonova was one of The Enquirer’s WTA first-round matches to watch, and it proved why on Friday evening. Samsonova ekked out a 7-6, 5-7, 7-5 win over her Kazakh competitor, despite winning fewer overall points than her.
Sloane Stephens-headlined night session kicks off, Tereza Valentova wins final Court 7 match of the day
The night session has begun, kicking off with wild card and 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens’ match against Austria’s Sinja Kraus on center court. Meanwhile, Czechia’s Tereza Valentova beat American qualifier Mary Stoiana 6-2, 7-6 to win her first WTA 1000 main draw match since the Italian Open in May.
Michael Zheng earns first career ATP 1000 main draw win, Trungelliti also wins tight two-setter
College tennis’s biggest success story this year continues to win professionally. Qualifier Michael Zheng, a recent graduate of Columbia University, beat Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 to win his first-ever ATP 1000 main draw match. He dominated the deciding tiebreak 7-1.
Another qualifier in Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti also pulled out a win, beating Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic 7-5, 7-6 in a match where he won 23 more return points than his opponent.
Xiyu Wang advances following retirement, compatriot Xinyu Wang also wins
A pair of Chinese WTA players won their first-round main draw matches, as play on outer courts begin to wrap up. Xiyu Wang won her match after Uzbekistan’s Maria Timofeeva retired midway through the second set. Wang had won every single game leading up to then, claiming a 6-0, 3-0 result. Meanwhile, Xinwu Wang defeated Belgium’s Hanna Vandewinkel 6-4, 6-3 to advance to a second consecutive Cincinnati Open second round.
Lorenzo Sonego, Thanasi Kokkanis advance in ATP first round matches
Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, best known for reaching the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinals, advanced into the Cincinnati Open second round with a 6-3, 6-3 win over China’s Juncheng Shang. Sonego hit seven aces en route to his victory.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s Nuno Borges beat Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 in a match that lasted two hours and 57 minutes. Borges is coming off of a run to the round of 16 at the National Bank Open, while Kokkinakis played his first Australian Open match since 2023.
Not much drama as day session comes to an end at Cincinnati Open
The final round of day session matches at the Cincinnati Open has featured six straight-set decisions thus far. On the WTA side, Oleksandra Oliynykova beat American wild card Elvina Kalieva (6-4, 6-1) and Alycia Parks fell to Vikorija Golubic (6-2, 6-2).
There were four such matches on the ATP side as Alex Michelson cruised on Center Court over Jesper De Jong (6-4, 6-4) and Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo beat qualifier Mark Lajal in just 82 minutes (6-4, 6-4). Elsewhere, qualifier Christopher O’Connell is through to the Round of 64 after a 6-4, 6-7 (5) win over Kamil Majchrzak and Botic Van De Zandschulp defeated Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 6-4.
J.J. Wolf bows out of Cincinnati Open with loss to James Duckworth
Cincinnati native J.J. Wolf’s run at the Cincinnati Open is over, after falling to Australia’s James Duckworth in a 7-5, 7-6 match. Duckworth dominated Wolf with a 7-0 match tiebreak in the second set.
Cincinnati Open schedule Saturday includes Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev
Some of the world’s top players will be in action on Saturday at the Cincinnati Open. Three-time winner Novak Djokovic, making his first appearance in Mason since winning his third Rookwood Cup in 2023, will face Thiago Agustin Tirante in the second match of the day on Center Court.
No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev, another former Cincinnati Open champion, ends the night on Center Court against Cameron Norrie.
J.J. Wolf drops first set in Cincinnati Open first round
Cincinnati native J.J. Wolf just lost the first set, 7-5, to Australia’s James Duckworth on Court 10.
Pablo Carreno Busta, Yannick Hanfmann cruise in Cincinnati Open wins
Pablo Carreno Busta, of Spain, and Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann advanced in straight sets on Friday.
Carreno Busta needed just 1 hour, 13 minutes to defeat Tomas Machac (6-3, 6-2) and Hanfmann defeated French qualifier Luca Van Assche 6-2, 6-4.
Anna Blinkova, Tamara Korpatsch advance in 2026 Cincinnati Open
The WTA’s Anna Blinkova and Tamara Korpatsch are through to the second round. Both players lost the first set of their respective match before a comeback win. Blinkova defeated fellow qualifier Mananchaya Swawangkaew 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. Korpatsch came back to defeat Maya Joint 0-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Former Cincinnati Open champion Grigor Dimitrov falls on Center Court
Grigor Dimitrov, the 2017 Cincinnati Open champion, won the first set of his first-round match against Sebastian Baez, 6-1. Baez then battled back to take the next two (6-3, 6-4) and now has a main draw win in three consecutive ATP1000 events.
Emiliana Arango eliminates Venus Williams from Cincinnati Open singles
Emiliana Arango needed just 65 minutes to beat Venus Williams on Grandstand, 6-2, 6-2. Arango landed 78% of her first serves and won 80% of points on the second serve. Williams will play in the doubles portion of the tournament with sister Serena. Arango will face reigning Cincinnati Open champion Iga Swiatek in the second round.
Matteo Berrettini rallies to defeat qualifier
Italian Matteo Berrettini dropped his opening set against Titouan Droguet but won 12 of the final 17 games to dispatch the French qualifier in the first round of the Cincinnati Open.
Cincinnati native Peyton Stearns wins 1st round match at 2026 Cincinnati Open
Peyton Stearns survived a comeback by qualifier Harriet Dart to win in straight sets 6-1, 7-6 (6). Stearns will face the seeded Clara Tauson in the Round of 64 this weekend.
Local J.J. Wolf set to make Cincinnati Open main draw return soon
After Czech player Nikola Bartunkova completed a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 match victory over Alina Charaeva on court 10, Cincinnati native J.J. Wolf is up next. Wolf is making his first Cincinnati Open main draw appearance since 2023 and will play James Duckworth.
Cincinnati native Peyton Stearns wins opening set of 1st round match at Cincinnati Open
Cincinnati native Peyton Stearns, who won her first-ever main draw match at her hometown tournament last year, just took the opening set in dominating fashion (6-1) against qualifier Harriet Dart on Champions Court.
Stearns took advantage of four double faults by Dart and won 82% of points on the first serve.
Stefano Tsitsipas digs deep in 1st round Cincinnati Open win
Not all straight-set wins are created equal. Former Cincinnati Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas needed nearly two hours, but got the job done on Grandstand in a 7-6 (4), 7-5 win over France’s Valentin Royer.
Qualifier Quentin Halys has 1st Cincinnati victory
Ten years since his only Cincinnati Open appearance ended in a qualifier loss, Quentin Halys is through to the Round of 64 after a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Vit Kopriva.
Fellow qualifier Coleman Wong saw his Mason run come to an end after a three-set loss to Daniel Altmaier.
Daria Snigur, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro advance in Cincinnati Open
Looking to stay in the WTA top 50, Daria Snigur is through to the Round of 64 after a 6-4, 6-3 win over Yuliia Starodubtseva.
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro also advanced in straights as she overcame eight double faults to defeat Anna Bondar 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Hubert Hurkacz moving on in Cincinnati Open
Hubert Hurkacz continues to succeed in Mason. The ATP No. 69 is now 7-2 in Cincinnati over his last three appearances after a 6-2, 6-4 win over Lucky Loser Sho Shimabukuro.
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo knocks out Cincinnati Open qualifier
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo just wrapped up a first-round win over qualifier Kyrian Jacquet of France, 6-2, 6-4.
Former Cincinnati Open champion up next on Center Court
Grigor Dimitrov, who won the Cincinnati Open in 2017, is up next on Center Court against Sebastian Baez of Argentina. Dimitrov, the ATP No. 138, is looking for just his second ATP1000 win of the season and first in Mason since 2021.
Qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini gets biggest win in 2 years
Qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini has her first WTA1000 win since 2024 (Italian Open) after fellow Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto retired in the first set.
Sara Bejlek dominates in Cincinnati Open’s first round
Sara Bejlek made quick work of Karolina Pliskova on Center Court, 6-0, 6-2. Bejlek advances to face No. 23 seed Barbora Krejcikova in the Round of 64.
Will Hubert Hurkacz make another Cincinnati run?
Hubert Hurkacz is 8-7 all-time at the Cincinnati Open with six of those wins coming in his last two appearances. Hurkacz reached the semifinals in 2023 (losing to Carlos Alcaraz) and the quarterfinals in 2024 (losing to Frances Tiafoe) before missing last year’s event.
Hurkacz just won the opening set of his first-round match against Lucky Loser Sho Shimabukuro, 6-2, on Tony Trabert Stadium 3.
Sara Bejlek dominating on Center Court
In just 29 minutes, World No. 35 Sara Bejlek won the first set over Karolina Pliskova, 6-0. Bejlek won 67% of points on the second serve (to Pliskova’s 14%) and won 16 points while receiving.
When will Venus Williams play at the Cincinnati Open?
Venus Williams will play the second match of the day session on Grandstand against qualifier Emiliana Arango. Williams won her last main draw match in Mason in 2023 and lost in the first round last year.
The winner of the Williams-Arango showdown faces reigning Cincinnati Open champion Iga Swiatek in the Round of 64.
Former Cincinnati finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas begins Cincinnati Open on Grandstand Court
World No. 49 Stefanos Tsitsipas, who reached the Cincinnati Open finals in 2022, is playing a first-round match against France’s Valentin Royer on the Grandstand. The match is tied 2-2 in the first set.
How to get Cincinnati Open tickets
Cincinnati Open ticket packages can be found here.
Gael Monfils makes final Cincinnati Open appearance
Gael Monfils, who will turn 40 years old in September and will retire at the end of this season, lost in the first round of the Cincinnati Open on Thursday to Rinky Hijikata.
The first of Monfils’ 14 Cincinnati Open appearances came in 2005, when he reached the Round of 16. He made the quarterfinals in 2011 and upset Carlos Alcaraz in 2024. He finishes 16-13 all-time in the event.
“For so many years, I came here to Cincinnati, and I always felt like you were cheering for me,” Monfils said in his post-match interview. “Thank you so much for those years.”
How to watch the 2026 Cincinnati Open
TV: Tennis Channel, Tennis Channel 2
The Tennis Channel is the exclusive U.S. home of the Cincinnati Open. They will broadcast on Friday, Aug 14 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Streaming: Fubo
Cincinnati Open 2026 schedule
Here is the schedule for each remaining session of the 2026 Cincinnati Open.
Friday, Aug. 14: First Round (Day), First Round (Night)
Saturday, Aug. 15: First Round, Second Round (Day), Second Round (Night)
Sunday, Aug. 16: Second Round (Day), Second Round (Night)
Monday, Aug. 17: Third Round (Day), Third Round (Night)
Tuesday, Aug. 18: Third Round (Day), Third Round (Night)
Wednesday, Aug. 19: Round of 16 (Day), Round of 16 (Night)
Thursday, Aug. 20: Quarterfinals (Day), Quarterfinals (Night)
Friday, Aug. 21: Quarterfinals (Day), Quarterfinals (Night)
Saturday, Aug. 22: Semifinals (Day), Semifinals (Night)
Sunday, Aug. 23: Finals (Day)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Replay | ATP, WTA Aug. 14 1st round results at the 2026 Cincinnati Open
Reporting by Shelby Dermer and Yanyan Li, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Shelby Dermer and Yanyan Li, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
